Tenascin-C May Be a Predictor of Acute Pulmonary Thromboembolism

Aim: Numerous studies have shown an increase in NT-pro BNP, troponin. and D-dimer levels with right ventricular dysfunction on echocardiography in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). We found no data about the relation between tenascin-C and acute PTE in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate tenascin-C levels in acute PTE and correlate them with NT-pro BNP, troponin. and D-dimer. Method: Thirty-four patients who have massive or submassive PTE on spiral thorax CT (PTE group) and twenty healthy volunteers (non-PTE group) were evaluated. In all patients, right ventricular functions were obtained on transthoracic echocardiography and plasma tenascin-C, NT-pro BNP, troponin., and D-dimer levels were measured. Results: The left ventricular systolic diameter, left ventricular diastolic diameter and left ventricular ejection fraction were similar in the two groups. The right heart chamber sizes and main pulmonary artery diameter were significantly larger in the PTE group and systolic pulmonary artery pressures were also significantly higher in this group. Tenascin-C, NT-pro BNP, and D-dimer levels were also significantly higher in the PTE group than in the non-PTE group (p < 0.001). The troponin I levels did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.4). Tenascin-C was found to be highly correlated with sPAP and NT-pro BNP and correlated with D-dimer; however, troponin I was not correlated with tenascin-C. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that tenascin-C may be an indicator of acute PTE.